Can You Be Thankful Right Smack In The Thick of It?

 

Today I'm thankful for some quiet time to just sit in my car before work and watch birds gathering food from the leftover fruit hanging on changing trees. A reminder...they are still provided for in bare seasons.

My life always has changing seasons...I need to remember that there's always fruit in change. It may not seem like it during the process, but it comes. In the midst of it I'm reminded of one of my favorite Scriptures:
 
"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM. ARE YOU NOT OF MORE VALUE THAN THEY? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"~Matthew 6:26-27.

I keep my mind, thoughts and focus on Jesus instead of issues, struggles or problems. He loves me and He is for me. What an awesome reminder today! 

Jump on today's THANKFUL TRAIN...tell me what you have to be thankful for? It doesn't have to be big, just something to remind yourself that you ARE blessed no matter what's going on at the moment:)

Should I?

I walked around, hoping the nagging feeling would disappear. I called my husband, "So what do you think? Should I do it?" He wasn't going to give me the answer I wanted, he just said, "It's your decision. If you feel good about it, do it." My head was screaming, "NO...I want you to say yes, go ahead...it'll be fine." But what I said was, "C'mon, tell me what I should do, is it okay?"

Nope, nothing. He said I had to decide and I already knew how he felt about it. GREAT! I wandered around the store for another hour, walking by the item, walking away from the item, by it, away from it...waiting to feel good about it. While, "No, don't do it," played like a broken record in my mind.

I spent time justifying why it was okay to purchase it. If the item was for me, I wouldn't have any problem walking away (I don't feel the need to buy myself things very often & am fine going without the extras.) But this was for my son. It was a birthday present he's wanted for years. Truth be told, it's a Christmas/Birthday present he's been asking for; for the past 5 years. But we never have an extra $300.00 for a PS3. I wanted to get it for him, so badly, but knew it would put us in a hole. Finally, unable to rid myself of that "feeling" as I circled around one last time, there it was again...I tried to push it away, only to continue to feel increasingly uneasy in my stomach. That was it...I walked out of the store. I didn't have a peace about it and I've definitely learned the importance of listening to the promptings of the Lord; even in the little everyday things like whether to buy something or not. It took some time to get through my own rationalization process and actually make the right decision, but once out of the store, my peace returned.

Today, if you feel the Lord prompting you to walk away from temptation, purchases, a lifestyle, certain decisions, addictions...LISTEN. He has a good and perfect plan for you. Listening to the Holy Spirit's guidance is not only wise, but will save you from future detrimental consequences. Be willing to deny yourself momentary pleasure to find true, lasting, pure happiness. Pray in all things, all decisions and all areas of your life. Let the Lord guide you into all truth...His Wisdom! In doing so, you'll find a Peace like you've never known before. Don't continue to ignore His promptings. God wants the best for you and is trying to guide you in the right direction. Yes, even the little areas!

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." 

Jeremiah 33:3

"Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love." 

2 John 1:3

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." 

Proverbs 3:5

"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?" 

1 Corinthians 3:16

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

Romans 8:11

PRAYER TRIGGERS

I've found there's nothing more important than learning the habit of 'PRAYER TRIGGERS.' This one simple word of advice will be life changing once you begin to form a habit of it. A Prayer Trigger, is something that triggers your brain to instantly pray. When worry, fear, anxiety, doubt, sadness, etc...begins to fill your mind and body, that should instantly trigger you to Pray. No matter where you are, stop what you're doing and say a quick prayer.

example: "Heavenly Father, please remove all these thoughts and feelings that are not of you. Carry my burdens, lift them from me and please fill me with Your complete peace right now, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Prayer overcomes all negative situations, circumstances, emotions and thoughts. Prayer should not only be restricted to the morning and evening. It should be all day. The enemy doesn't limit his attack on you to only certain times. He is filling your mind with negative, self-defeating thoughts constantly. Why should you allow him free reign over you during the day?

Let each negative thought and emotion begin to be your 'Prayer Triggers.' Once this amazing, transforming habit is formed, you will begin to see changes in your daily thoughts. Start today and focus on your personal Prayer Triggers. It's time to let the Lord help you overcome the enemy's devices. You are not alone! He is faithful when you call upon Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Genesis 4:6 "Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? but if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Genesis 28:15 "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

1 Thessalonians 5:6 "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

Going Deeper

Story By: Lisa Petrarca

Are you taking the necessary steps to building a relationship with the Lord? Not only limiting yourself to prayer in the morning or evening, but praying throughout the day.

When a decision is needed to be made...

When you're angry...

When you're lost...

When you're scared...

When you're worried...

When you're frustrated...

When your life & your choices no longer make sense...

PRAY!

I've discovered that the more I pray, the more opportunity I give the Lord to help me. He knows your needs, but He is waiting for you to stop trying to do it alone and ask for His help. Our days are filled with so many emotions and decisions. Our human nature usually makes decisions based on our feelings. God basis His decisions on complete knowledge of what is best for you.

So does it really make sense to trust your fleeting, passing, whimsical emotions?

Or trust in the Lord, the one person who knows you better than you know yourself?

God sees you!

Not the person you show to the world, but YOU!

Your true heart...

Your soul...

Your true self behind all the walls of protection.

Let God answer your prayers. Pray throughout the day and watch the change in your life as you build a close relationship with your Father in Heaven.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:4-6

And this is my prayer: that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11